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I keep feeling contractions, though I am only 36 weeks pregnant. |
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The uterus is formed of a network of strong muscle fibres and it contracts all the way through pregnancy – though you won't be aware of it until late in pregnancy. These noticeable contractions are called Braxton Hicks contractions. You feel your tummy harden for a number of seconds, and if you're in the bath you may see it tense up. But Braxton Hicks contractions don't get longer or more frequent, so you know they're not labour contractions.
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Are contractions painful? |
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Yes, they are for most women. They feel like a gradual tightening over your tummy – if you've ever had a period pain, it's a bit like that. Some women feel them in their back, or their thighs. They may remind you of period pains (which are also contractions of the uterus).
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Why do some babies need helping out with forceps or a ventouse? |
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Forceps are a set of linked spoons that grasp the baby's head to help it along. A ventouse uses a vacuum pump to help the baby make these last important inches on the journey. A baby might need either of these to be born more quickly
- if he's distressed' – shown in a slowing heart rate, or if the baby passes meconium (the contents of the baby's rectum) which will stain the liquor (amniotic fluid), or shown in a blood sample taken from the baby's scalp
- if his way out is difficult, because he is in a poor position, or because the mother's pelvis isn't able to open wide enough
- if your contractions have weakened, or you're exhausted
- if the baby is pre-term, which means his soft skull bones need more protection
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Will I need stitches after the birth? |
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Sometimes, the perineum tears while stretching over the baby's head. Or, the midwife may ask if she can cut the perineum because she feels you are about to tear badly or the baby needs to be born quickly. You will be cut if you have forceps. This cut is known as an episiotomy. Large tears and episiotomies need stitching up afterwards. You will be given a local anaesthetic while this is done. The stitches should dissolve by themselves; you don't usually need to have them taken out.
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Will I need a caesarean section if I have another baby? |
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Probably not, unless the reason for your caesarean happens again, or if you produce a big baby and you have a small pelvis - though it's always worth getting another opinion on this, as the diagnosis isn't always cut and dried. When you go into labour, there is a really very tiny risk that the scar on your uterus might start to rupture, but with proper care, this can be spotted before it becomes a problem.
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How does the midwife check your health? |
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In hospital, and at home, a midwife will check (by feeling your stomach) whether your uterus is getting back to its non-pregnant size; she'll look at any stitches in your perineum or your stomach if you have a caesarean section, and how the skin is healing. She may check your blood pressure, and ask you about discharge, your breasts, and how you feel.
Around six weeks after the birth, you'll be invited to see your family doctor (or in some places it could be the community midwife, or a doctor or midwife at the hospital where you had your baby). This is the postnatal check, and it's routine, to pick up on any health issues that may have been missed.
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How can I avoid constipation after the birth? |
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This is such a common problem – and it can feel a bit scary opening your bowels, as you just don't want to push very much if you feel bruised and if you have had stitches. You will get back to your normal habits, though, if you help things along by drinking plenty of fluids, and by upping the fibre in your diet with lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, and wholegrains.
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When will my periods return? |
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If you breast-feed, you'll delay the return of your periods. Some women don't get them back until after they have stopped breast-feeding completely. Others find they come back as soon as their baby starts to have something as well as breast milk, or goes longer between feeds. If you don't breast-feed, expect to see your periods six to eight weeks after the birth.
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Could pregnancy sickness predict your baby's sex? |
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It sounds unlikely, but Swedish researchers have found that severe pregnancy sickness was associated with girl pregnancies, rather than with boys.
Over eight years, doctors followed all the pregnant women who were ill enough to be admitted to hospital with pregnancy sickness in the first three months of pregnancy. They discovered that the incidence of girls was actually 25 per cent higher in the group than in the population as a whole. Apparently, pregnancy hormones are at higher levels with a girl in the first three months, and this is what makes the sickness more severe. Don't assume that it's a reliable indicator of your baby's sex, however. 25 per cent may sound a lot, but the actual difference in numbers is quite small. The incidence of girl babies was 55.7 per cent, and the incidence of boy babies was 44.3 per cent – not a massive gap. Using your level of sickness to predict the sex of your baby is almost as unreliable as any of the other ‘classic’ methods!
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Is it okay to try to slim while I am pregnant? I was dieting before I became pregnant, and I still had three stones to go – now I think being pregnant |
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Don't aim to lose weight. However, if you stick to a healthy eating plan, you'll keep your diet on track. Ask your midwife if you can see a dietician, and discuss your plans with her. If you are slimming with a recognised group, they probably have a special diet for pregnant women.
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Once I've stopped taking the pill, how long should I wait to try for a baby? |
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Many experts recommend waiting three months before you try to conceive to give your body a chance to return to its normal cycle.
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When's the best time of the month to conceive? |
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If you have a 28-day cycle, you are most likely to conceive between days 12 and 16 (day 1 is the first day of your period). Whatever the length of your cycle, your most fertile time is 12-16 days before your next period begins.
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Can I influence the sex of my baby? |
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You may be able to increase your chances of having a boy by making love when you are most fertile - about 14 days before your period is due. You may be able to increase your chances of having a girl by making love in the three days before you become fertile.
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